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(No Model.)

W. W. ANDERSON.

GARMENT CLASP.

No. 365,662. Patented June 28, 1887.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. ANDERSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,662, dated June 28, 1887.

Application filed March 91, 1887. Serial No. 231,701. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. ANDER- SON, of the city, county, and State of New York,-have invented new and useful Improvements in Garment-Clasps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure I is a perspective view of my clasp. Fig. 2 is a plan showing its operation as a cuff holder. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the clasp. Fig. at is a transverse section on line as x.

This invention relates to that class of clasps which are employed to attach together articles of apparel, and while, for convenience, I show and particularly describe my invention as a cuff-holder it will be understood that I do not limit myself to such use, because my invention may be employed for a stocking-supporter, sleeve-adj uster, for attaching tags, 80c. This will be clearly understood when the following points are considered: v

First. Folds in garments form naturally up and down or lengthwise more often than crosswise. Lengthwise folds do not shorten the garment, and are not likely to be pulled out straight and in that way disengaged from the jaws of the clasp.

Second. It is less liable to inconvenience the wearer if the clasp is arranged lengthwise of the garment and its transverse width reduced to the least practical limit.

I am aware that cuff holders have been made heretofore with the clasp placed transversely on the button-bar, so that while the principal length of the holder is lengthwise of the garment the jaws of the clasp are adapted to seize a lengthwise fold of the garment. In those holders the clasp stands with its lever ends projecting transversely, and being separated they are constantly liable to be engaged by the overgarment, allof whose movements will be in a direction transverse to the ends of the clasp and liable to be caught and the clasp pulled from its hold. This liability to be caught and deranged by an overgarment is entirely obviated by my invention, and the whole width of the clasp is greatly reduced.

That others may fully understand my invention, I will particularly describe it, having reference to the accompanying drawings, but without intending to be limited to the details as therein shown.

My clasp is made with two plates, a b, pivoted together at c in the usual way, and provided with a coiled spring placed around said pivot, with its ends extending backward toward the free ends of the plates and exerting a constant pressure to keep the opposite or gripping ends closed together. The free end of each plate a b is bent inward, so that they mutually protect each other from catching in the overgarment or other article with which they may come in contact. To this point the clasp does not differ from clasps heretofore patented to me. The gripping-jaws or ends curve around toward the side, as at d, so that they may receive and grip an edge or fold of the garment which runs parallel with the lever portions of the clasp, as shown in Fig. 2. The edges of the plates a b, except at their extremities, are curved over toward each other,

so as to present from the outside a smooth rounded edge, except at the jaws and at the extremities of the free lever ends, so that there are no exposed edges or angles on which an overgarment can catch. The edges turned over extend from near the jaws to near the lever ends and stiffen the plates a b to such an extent that with equal strength the plates a b may be made of much thinner and lighter material than heretofore.

For the purposes of a cuff-holder, a buttonplate, E, is attached to the clasp by a link, f. The button 9 then passes through the button holes of the cuff, as shown; but instead of a buttonplate a piece of webbing, elastic or otherwise, may be attached to constitute a stocking or sleeve supporter or adjuster; or a tag or article for display may be attached, thejaws being then employed to grip small vertical folds in a garment or piece of goods of any kind.

Having described my invention, I claim-- 1. A garment-clasp composed of plates a Z), movably joined together and supplied with a closing-spring, and having the j aw ends curved around lsidewise, substantially as described, and terminated in gripping-jaws parallel with the lever ends, as set forth.

2. Agarmentclasp composed of plates at b, pivot,as set forth, whereby they may seize a having the jaw ends curved around sidewise and terminated in gripping-jaws parallel with lengthwise fold of the garment.

4:. A garment-clasp composed of two plates,

the lever ends, and having the edges at the I a b, flexiblyjoined together, and having the bend turned or flanged over, as set forth, to jaw ends curved away sidewise, to place said strengthen said plates and to close the edge jaws parallel with thelever ends of said plates,

space, to prevent part of the garment from entering and obstructing the action of the clasp.

3. A garment-clasp composed of two plates, a b, with a pivot, c, to join them together, and having the jaw ends bent around sidewise and terminated in gripping-jaws at an angl e'to said combined with a button-plate, E, flexibly jointed to said clasp, as set forth.

- WM. WV. ANDERSON.

Vitnesses:

R. D. 0. SMITH, MYLEs STANDISH SMITH. 

